Which incident involving propellers is reportable to the NTSB under Part 830?

The separation of a blade in flight is considered a significant incident that has direct implications for the safety and airworthiness of an aircraft. When a propeller blade separates while the aircraft is in flight, it poses an immediate and serious hazard not only to the aircraft itself but also to people and property on the ground or in the vicinity. Such an event can lead to loss of control of the aircraft or increase the risk of an accident. Therefore, incidents that can potentially impact the safety of flight operations must be reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) under Part 830 regulations.

In contrast, while other incidents may have safety concerns, they do not meet the threshold for mandatory reporting to the NTSB. A cabin fire caused by a propeller may involve significant safety issues, but if it does not lead to a significant accident or injury, it may not require reporting. A failure of a propeller governor, although problematic, does not inherently require NTSB notification unless it results in an accident. Lastly, damage to a propeller during landing might not necessitate reporting unless it is associated with a safety-related incident resulting in injury or substantial damage. Thus, the separation of a blade in flight is unequivocally a reportable incident